FOX9ND's Blog

In my last Vikings post, I urged Coach Childress to make some changes, especially at quarterback.  The fact that the very next week Gus was in and T-Jack out shows he MUST be reading these blogs.  SO, what do we see for the rest of the season, now that we've hit the bye week at 3up and 4down?

So, you've got the Texans and Packers at home coming up.  Both should be wins, but obviously the defense has to vastly improve.  The next two weeks are tough, really tough... Tampa and Jax on the road.  Yikes.  From there you have the Bears at home, and we owe them one, and the next two roadies are the kitties... er Lions... and the Cardinals.  Both of those SHOULD be winnable.  We close out with two home games, against the much-improved Falcons and the Superbowl Champion Giants.

You've got to win 4 of these 5 home games, but that only puts you at 7 wins (optimistically because this assumes we will beat the Packers and the Bears)..  Then you have the Lions, so that should be another W,    So it comes down to beating 2 out of 3 of the Bucs, Jags and Falcons on the road.  That would put you at ten wins.

How can it be done?

1.  Play better on special teams.  Kick the darn ball and tackle people.  Get out of Kluwe's head and let him play.  If he costs you another game cut him loose.  Coleman still looks like he's in great shape right?

2.  Bring more blitz.  Clearly Jared Allen can't beat three guys each pass play.

3.  Continue opening up the offense.  Last week against the BEars had many positive signs.

WSCD? (What Should Childress Do?  There's a lot of that going around today after the Vikings loss to the Indianapolis Colts.  The home team is now 0-2, and two games out of the division lead.  They also may not sell out their next home game against Carolina, meaning there could be a blackout here in Vikingland for the first time in more than a decade.  This for a team that "many" expected to make a run to the playoffs (more on that thinking later)

So coach Brad Childress has a big problem.  WSCD?

I'm no football coach, and I'm sure Brad Childress has forgotten more about football than I'll ever know.  However, I can speak to getting the most out of a team.  I've led news departments in the Twin Cities, Denver and Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Each had challenges, each brought successes and each had unfufilled expectations.  So without further ado, here is my unsolicited advice to coach Childress.

1.  Listen.  If everyone, or nearly everyone, can't understand why you're sticking with an inexperienced quarterback, a rookie playcalling offensive coach and a playbook that takes your best player out on passing downs... maybe... just maybe... they have a point.  Don't be stubborn coach.  Open your ears and consider that your critics just might be right

2.  Let 'em sweat after a loss.  You don't have to commit to your quarterback so soon after a game.  Yesterday after another mediocre-at-best performance by Tarvaris Jackson, you weighed right in with your unwavering support.  Why?  Let him think about it.  Let him know that this isn't good enough and that you'll find someone else if he can't make the proper decisions and the right throws.  Let HIM feel the heat as much as you're feeling it.  I don't say this to make Tarvaris suffer, I say it because it will lead to a positive result:  He'll either get better, or he'll realize that he simply isn't the guy.  Either way isn't it better to find out now (or soon) than to keep piling on support to a player who may or may not be able to handle it?

2.  Play to Win.  Swing AP out in the flat, throw a deep ball, have the receivers run some routes actually PAST the first down marker.  It seems like this team is in the mindset of trying NOT to lose rather than expecting to win.

3.  Focus on your team and nothing else.  My first day on the job in Grand Rapids, all the staff at my station turned on the televisions at 5pm.  They sat and watched the number one station, and stared in fear that they may have missed something.  After a week of observing this I called a meeting for the next Monday.  I started the meeting by turning off every other station on the newsroom tv monitors, leaving only our station for the staff to watch.  I told the employees we couldn't worry about the competition until we had our own house in order.  This freed them up to concentrate on our strategies and objectives. 

4.  Keep the key leaders on board.  Find the veterans, talk with them and keep them on your side.  They'll keep the other guys in line.  It's risky, but you have to open up.  Believe me, it doesn't work unless you have at least some of the key people working for you behind-the-scenes.

5.  It's not YOU.  Fans aren't turning on you as a person, they just don't like the results you are (or are not) getting.  It's professional, not personal.  Once you feel the persecution complex, you may never come out of it.  Stay above the criticism, know you will make the right adjustments and be confident in your abilities.

There, now I'm sure the team will go 14-2.

And getting back to the point at the top.  Did anyone check the schedule before predicting all these great things for the Vikes?  Hmmm Packers in GB on MNF (they were 13-3 last year), Colts at home (They won the Super Bowl 2 years ago), Panthers, then roadies at Tenn and New Orleans, followed by home against the Bears.  Not exactly an easy start!  Who in their right mind expected the Vikings to win 4 or 5 or 6 of these games?  This team was 8-8 and missed the playoffs last season.  Yes they added Jared Allen, but last I checked he couldn't play quarterback.

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I had the opportunity to meet new Vikings defensive lineman Jared Allen this week.  Jared was playing in the Vikings Children's Fund golf invitational at Rush Creek.  Let me just say, Viking fans, you're gonna love this guy. 

Jared was asked to speak from the podium after the tournament.  He started out by saying how much he appreciates the warm reception he's received in Minnesota from the fans, the Vikings organization and his fellow players.  He then launched right into the importance of the Vikings Children's Fund and how raising money for sick children was the real focus of the event.  Jared was gracious and his message was heartfelt.

After the speech Jared began walking toward our table.  The first thing I noticed was the sun disappeared.  The man actually blocked out the light from the entire picture window!  I extended my hand and introduced myself.  He stopped and chatted for a few seconds, even though it was clear he had other places to be and additional demands on his time.  Again, he couldn't have been more cordial. 

We'll see what he's like as the rigors of the season unfold.  But as far as first impressions, it's a major thumbs up for #69

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The Wild have regained home ice in their series against the Avalanche, and they did it the old-fashioned way.  They Eeeearned it. 

Finally, a game in this series where the better team actually won.  Game 3 was dominated by the Wild from start to finish.  If it weren't for the stellar play of Avs Goalie Jose Theodore, Minnesota would have won in a blowout.  The Wild skated faster, passed better, pushed the play and played better defense in every period. 

The Wild's physical play seemed to intimidate the Avalanche.  Peter Forsberg looked like he wanted no part of the procedings after getting knocked around a little early in the game. 

In overtime, utter domination.  The Wild's overtime winning goal was a fitting capper for the night.  Brian Rolston chased down what would have been an icing, beating the defender to the puck.  He then waited for not one, but two teamates to scream into the play.  When he found Piere-Marc Bouchard the pass was true and the shot was even better.

The Avs should be taking this one hard because they got their tails kicked in every way.  We'll see what they come back with tonight.  For the Wild, just keep doing what your doing.

Gosh, the NHL playoffs are starting and it will be without the Vancouver Canucks.  What a shame!.  One of the biggest collections of thugs miscreants and non-talents ever assembled won't be on display during the tournament for Lord Stanley's Cup. 

Simply put, GOOD.  I can't stand the Canucks, and hockey fans shouldn't have to stand for these idiots either.  Through the years they have had more agitators, punks and goons than any team in the league.  This year they had to settle for Alex Burrows (179 PIM), Matt Cooke and Jeff Cowan to do their dirty work.  But let's not forget Canuck oldie-but-goodies like the Todd Bertuzzi hit on Steve Moore.  This is a team that celebrates dirty play.  Not hard in-your-face play, but dirty sneak up and sucker punch you play.

See ya Canucks.  You won't be missed.  And by the way, those throw-back unis look more like throw-up unis.

No really, will they or won't they?  The Minnesota Wild that is.  We're about to find out if they can step up as they head out on a crucial road trip.  Tilts again Vancouver (boo), Calgary and Colorado will provide a tough test, and a good read, on whether this team really will contend this year. 

At this point things don't look nearly as bright as the heady days during the first 20 games of the season.  Right now the Backstom is struggling to find that all-important focus, the defense is letting guys alone in front of the net, and the scoring seems to come in spurts, rather than in a consistent night-in night-out fashion.

So, will the real Minnesota Wild please step up.  No really, will you?

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Meghan Dolliff a Winner at Buck Hill

Going fast apparently runs in the family.  7-year-old Meghan Dolliff captured a first-place title at the Buck Hill Invitational on Saturday, January 5th.  The Deephaven youngster is the latest in a long-line of skiing Dolliffs.  Her father, Doug, mother Tracy and sister Madison all have the need for speed on the ski hill.  Meghan has been skiing almost as soon as she learned to walk.  We look for many more titles in the future!

Edina Parks announced they will open the outdoor rinks on Friday, Dec. 14th!!!  When are the rinks opening in your community?  And yes, count me among those who LOVE it when the weather gets cold!

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The State of Hockey should be in a state of euphoria right about now.  The Wild are undefeated, as are the Gopher Men (thanks to some power play gifts in the game against RPI).  So what do you think, are the Wild for real?  Do they have what it takes to contend all season long, and more importantly, all through the playoffs?  Or, are the Wild (is the Wild?) this year's Buffalo Sabres... hot start only to be dispatched in the Stanley Cup tournament when teams really bring the intensity?

Here's my take.  Today's NHL is about Power, Speed, Goaltending and Youth, in that order.  The Ducks last year had all these in abundance and stormed to the cup.  Looking at the Wild, they are getting better on the Power quotient, and they have the other key elements nailed.  Speed, forget it.  Gaborik makes everyone else look like they are standing still.  Add in Bouchard, Koivu, Rolston, even Walz and you have guys who can flat out skate.  Goaltending, Niklas Backstrom is so confident right now.  He's seeing the puck and snaring anything without rebounds.  He looks effortless in the crease, even on the toughest saves.  And, with the exception of some of the necessary leaders, the Keith Carneys and the Wes Walzs, this is a young team as well.  13 of the 24 players on the roster were born in the 1980s.  They will hold up through the long grind of the NHL season.

If, and it's a big if, Gaborik and Backstrom can stay healthy all year, we just might see a Stanley Cup finals played in the Twin Cities for the first time since the early 1990's.  In my view, it's not too early to get excited about this Wild team... even if we've only played 6% of the schedule!

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Folks,

There's a new board to talk some smack about your favorite NFC North team.  Go to Sports and click on Vikings Central.  Sign up and start chattin'.  Early returns show a whole bunch of confident Packer fans.  Understandable, given the Vikes past two games.  But, the Packers have not fared well at the Dome over the years.  I have a suspicion we're going to see a good game on Sunday.  Both defenses are tough and it will likely come down to which offense can limit mistakes.  Will we see the "new" Brett Favre... the one who takes the short passes and lets the receivers run, or the old Brett who chucks the ball into impossible places and gets interceptions in return?  You know Sharper, Longwell and Ferguson would love to show up their old team.  What are your thoughts?  Let the smack begin!

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